Overview

• Nepal's draft law to address Everest overcrowding and safety issues has been registered in the National Assembly, where the ruling alliance holds the majority needed for passage.
• The proposed legislation restricts Everest permits to climbers who have summited at least one 7,000-metre peak within Nepal and requires Nepali sardars and guides for all expeditions.
• International operators argue for broader qualifying criteria, suggesting peaks outside Nepal, such as Aconcagua or Denali, and advocating for the inclusion of IFMGA-certified guides of any nationality.
• Overcrowding on Everest has been linked to fatalities, with 12 deaths and five climbers missing in 2023, when 478 permits were issued.
• The reforms reflect Nepal's balancing act between improving safety standards and maintaining its reliance on mountaineering tourism for economic revenue.